See Pictures Of Country Music’s Biggest Stars Before They Found Their Signature Look And Style
Without the beards, braids, and cowboy hats, some of your favorite country stars looked completely different before they found their signature look!
Just like everyone else, country stars try new things and switch up their style. For some, it took a while to find a look that stood out and stuck.
Oftentimes, country fans flipping through old pictures of their favorite artists are stunned to see how much they’ve changed. You’ll surely have a similar reaction as you scroll down in this list!
Keep going to see photos of 16 country stars before they found their signature look!
Hank Williams Jr.
Hank Williams Jr. was clean-shaven and clean-cut in the early years of his career. But that look isn’t what comes to mind when we think of the man known as “Bocephus.”
On August 8, 1975, Williams almost died after falling nearly 500 feet while mountain climbing in Montana. He suffered several skull and facial fractures and spent two years recovering from the accident.
As Williams recovered, he hid his scars by growing a beard, wearing sunglasses, and donning a cowboy hat. Soon enough, those elements all became part of his signature style. Now, fans can’t picture him any other way!
Waylon Jennings
Much like Williams, outlaw country music legend Waylon Jennings had a clean-shaven, clean-cut appearance when he first entered the music industry. He also wore more traditional-looking suits.
Over the years, Jennings grew a beard and let his hair reach his shoulders. He ditched the suits for more traditional “cowboy” attire, wearing Western-themed vests and black cowboy hats.
Every country music fan will tell you that was Waylon Jennings’ signature look!
Lainey Wilson
Lainey Wilson‘s style could be described as hippie-chic in the early years of her career. She rocked bold prints and colors, and often wore sunglasses. Her hair was darker, and almost always styled completely down.
While some of Wilson’s clothes are still bohemian in style, she leans toward a “Western” look these days. She wears coordinating sets complemented with fringe, matching cowboy hats, and lots of statement jewelry (particularly turquoise).
Her hair is lighter now, and while she often wears it down, she’ll switch it up by styling it into long braids. Also, you don’t see her rolling onto the red carpet with a pair of sunglasses anymore.
One clothing item that’s always been a staple in Wilson’s wardrobe? Her signature bell-bottoms. Some things never change!
Willie Nelson
The Willie Nelson we know today looks nearly unrecognizable in comparison to his younger self!
Like many classic male country artists, Nelson started his career as a clean-cut, clean-shaven, suit-wearing singer-songwriter. But as he embraced more of his “outlaw” persona, he grew a beard, started wearing a bandana (or a cowboy hat), and began rocking his iconic braids.
Now that’s a signature look!
Blake Shelton
Unlike some of the other country stars in this list, Blake Shelton didn’t take too long to find his signature look. When we first met him during the “Austin” and “Ol’ Red” era, he proudly rocked a long, curly mullet, which he topped with a cowboy hat.
Not much further down the line, the mullet got cut, and the hat was abandoned (but he’s brought both back before). Now, Shelton is known for sporting a shorter—although still curly—hairstyle.
Shelton’s clothing hasn’t changed much. His go-to look consists of a button-up shirt, a pair of blue jeans, and a trusty set of boots. He’ll occasionally break out a suit jacket, vest, and tie for more formal occasions, but those jeans aren’t going anywhere!
Chris Stapleton
This may be one of the most shocking transformations in this list!
When Chris Stapleton had his breakout moment at the 2015 CMA Awards, he looked the same way he does today. His hair and beard were long, and he proudly rocked his now-instantly-recognizable cowboy hat.
But years before that moment catapulted him into country music superstardom, Stapleton had short hair and a short beard. Only a few pictures of the early era Stapleton seem to exist, and fans are always surprised to see how he looked before he found his signature style
George Strait
Ever since George Strait launched his country music career, his sense of style hasn’t really changed. He’s hardly ever been seen without a cowboy hat perched on his head, and he loves a good pair of jeans and boots.
But before he became “The King of Country,” Strait served in the U.S. Army. Those photos from his time in the service are among the few that depict him before he found his signature look.
Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson‘s style has been pretty consistent since he became a country star. His hair has been a little longer, and sometimes he rocks neon-colored life jackets on the “Chattahoochee,” but beyond that, he’s maintained a tried-and-true look for multiple decades.
However, pre-fame, Jackson looked like an entirely different person! He was clean-shaven and didn’t wear a cowboy hat, which is undoubtedly his signature accessory now.
Ella Langley
Ella Langley has been one of country music’s fastest-rising stars. As she’s dominated the charts and awards shows, she’s also perfected her signature style, which is Bohemian-inspired with a touch of country flair.
Of course, she ties the whole look together with her beautiful hairdo (we feel like fans will lose their minds if she ever gets rid of the bangs).
But before she was making country music history with songs like “Choosin’ Texas,” Langley was still trying to find her place musically and stylistically. She tested different aesthetics, changed up her hair color, and didn’t have her now-iconic bangs.
Jamey Johnson
While we see several country stars make a cowboy hat part of their signature look, Jamey Johnson did the opposite. He wore a cowboy hat during the early years of his career, and for the cover shoot for his debut album, The Dollar.
But as time passed, Johnson ditched the hat. He let his hair and beard grow out, fully embracing the look that fans know him for today.
Morgan Wallen
For starters, did you know that Morgan Wallen appeared on The Voice? He auditioned for the show’s sixth season.
Wallen, who was sporting long hair and a clean-shaven face at the time, covered “Collide” by Howie Day. Two coaches turned for him, and he joined Team Usher. He was stolen by Adam Levine in the second round of the battles before being eliminated during the playoffs.
Now, Wallen is one of country music’s biggest stars, often found at #1 on the charts. He’s switched up his hairstyle over the years, growing a mullet, then shaving his head, and eventually letting his hair grow back.
Wallen has also grown a mustache, which he rocks alone or with a subtle beard. Additionally, Wallen is a big fan of ball caps and is rarely seen without one.
Riley Green
Keeping with the trend of several other country stars in this list, “Worst Way” singer Riley Green found his signature look when he grew some facial hair. His followers have been fans of the mustache he’s been sporting in recent years (and he broke the internet when he shaved it off in the summer of 2025).
Although Riley rocked a full beard when he was younger (and periodically in later years), people now think of him as a mustache icon.
“When you have a mustache like this, I always describe it, you know when you pull up to a four-way stop, with four stop signs, and you and another car get there at the same time? You always go first if you have a mustache like I had,” he joked after shaving his mustache off (it has since grown back).
Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw has one of the most recognizable “looks” of any star in country music. Other than a few subtle changes (or alterations for movie/TV roles), his style has been fairly consistent through the years, with hallmarks being his beard and black cowboy hat.
But before he became a globally recognized country star and actor, McGraw was a clean-shaven young man from Louisiana. The leftmost photo above shows him at age 20, several years before he released his debut album in 1993. By then, he was rocking the cowboy hat and facial hair he’s become known for today.
Trace Adkins
Talk about a transformation! Can you believe that Trace Adkins is the young man in the photo on the left? Although he had long hair then, he’s known for having even longer hair now!
The leftmost picture was taken when Adkins was a teen, long before he established himself as a country music superstar with hits like “Ladies Love Country Boys” and “Just Fishin’.”
By the time Adkins released his debut studio album, Dreamin’ Out Loud, in 1996, he was sporting the cowboy hat and facial hair that have become part of his signature look.
Vince Gill
Have you ever seen Vince Gill with long hair before? If not, now you have!
Gill has been in the business for many decades, so his style (and especially his hair) has changed quite a bit. Now he’s known for wearing glasses and keeping his hair cut short.
Before his solo career took off, Gill performed in the country-rock band Pure Prairie League. During that era, he rocked a long, luscious hairdo that was quintessentially ’80s. A far departure from his preferred hairstyle these days!
Zach Top
Zach Top is one of country music’s fastest-rising stars, but he may have already found his signature look.
Just like many of the other artists in this list, Top started performing as a clean-shaven young man without a cowboy hat in sight. The hat came into the equation first, then the facial hair followed. In a matter of just a few years, Top has created an instantly recognizable look.
Will Top choose to change things up again? Or has he settled into his signature sense of style already? Time will tell!
